Who's new? Labour releases party list for upcoming election

The Labour Party has released its final candidate list for the November election, with leader Chris Hipkins describing it as "one that I'm incredibly proud of".

Under the most recent 1News Verian poll, Labour was sitting on 37%, which would deliver them 47 seats in Parliament if the election were to be held today.

With those numbers, first-time candidates with a shot at getting into Parliament on the list include police officer Rakesh Naidoo, unionist Chris Flatt, broadcast executive Kingi Kiriona, Kapiti Coast councillor Sophie Handford, barrister Max Harris, and Warrick Cleine.

The final figures will depend on exactly how many and which electorate seats the party wins, alongside its final party vote. Labour secured only 27% of the vote in 2023.

Watch Chris Hipkins and Labour Party president Jill Day discuss the changes here.

Compared with the list from the last election, finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds, foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters, and Reuben Davidson are among the biggest movers within Labour in the past parliamentary term.

Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, who has held the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate since 2023, makes her debut on the list at 9.

Hipkins said there was a "rich diversity of candidates" on the 2026 list.

"I'm looking forward to campaigning alongside everybody who's on this list."

He said he expected "at least 10 new people will come off the list into Parliament after the election," on top of candidates expected to win electorate seats, amounting to what he called "significant renewal" while retaining experienced hands in the existing team.

Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor has not picked up a spot on the party list following the abolition of his electorate in last year's boundary changes.

He failed to secure candidacy in the new Wellington North seat against Ayesha Verrall.

Michael Wood, who resigned from Cabinet in 2023 over an undisclosed shareholding controversy, does not return to the list, running as an electorate-only MP in Mt Roskill.

Senior Labour MP Megan Woods will not seek re-election in the Christchurch electorate of Wigram, opting instead to stand as a list-only candidate at this election.

The Green Party has also announced its party list.

Labour's list for the 2026 election is:

1. Chris Hipkins

2. Carmel Sepuloni

3. Barbara Edmonds

4. Willie Jackson

5. Megan Woods

6. Ayesha Verrall

7. Willow-Jean Prime

8. Vanushi Walters

9.. Cushla Tangaere-Manuel

10. Kieran McAnulty

11. Rachel Brooking

12. Ginny Andersen

13. Rakesh Naidoo

14. Tangi Utikere

15. Jan Tinetti

16. Damien O’Connor

17. Jo Luxton

18. Priyanca Radhakrishnan

19. Shanan Halbert

20. Chris Flatt

21. Reuben Davidson

22. Kingi Kiriona

23. Camilla Belich

24. Jenny Salesa

25. Glen Bennett

26. Sophie Handford

27. Deborah Russell

28. Tracey McLellan

29. Max Harris

30. Warrick Cleine

31. Ibrahim Omer

32. Anae Neru Leavasa

33. Georgie Dansey

34. Te Pūoho Kātene

35. Naisi Chen

36. Dan Rosewarne

37. Rachel Boyack

38. Helen White

39. Ingrid Leary

40. Phil Twyford

41. Arena Williams

42. Lemauga Lydia Sosene

43. Kerrin Leoni

44. Toni Boynton

45. Hannah Pia Baral

46. Angela Roberts

47. Estefania Muller-Palarés

48. Anahila Kanongata’a

49. Gary Payinda

50. Alex Hedley

51. Craig Renney

52. George Hampton

53. Dominik Yanzick

54. Rory Paterson

55. Ashleigh Latimer

56. Rata Jamieson

57. Naresh Perinpanayagam

58. Peter McDonald

59. Amanda Clinton-Gohdes

60. Myra Williamson

61. Kharag Singh

62. Janice Lee

63. Sam Collins

64. Sange Malama

65. Rhieve Grey

66. Karl Severinsen

67. Henrietta Hunkin-Tagaloa

68. Fisher Wang

69. Brendan McEnroe

70. Campbell Matthews

71. David Pattemore

72. Nathaniel Howe